Resolve impasse over intern doctors

The doctors' union has issued a strike notice over several unresolved issues.

According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union, upon the expiry of the seven-day notice on March 12, delivery of health services by medical practitioners, pharmacists and dentists in all Ministry of Health and county government institutions will grind to a halt.

Top on their demands list is the placement of 1,200 medical interns, even as Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakumicha maintains there is no money to absorb the interns. 

The union is also demanding the honouring of a collective bargaining agreement and court orders.

Clinical officers, nutritionists and dieticians, laboratory officers and pharmaceutical technologists have also put the national and county governments on notice.

Kenya has made strides in healthcare and the Numbeo Health Index Report 2024 places it at position two behind South Africa in the continent and 51 globally.

The ranking could even be better if public service wastage and theft is addressed and the accruing funds channelled towards improving the welfare of health workers and equipping hospitals.

Hundreds of Kenyans lack the luxury of medical health insurance, which could grant them private healthcare.

They solely rely on national and county hospitals for medical care and any disruption of service is a sure ticket to their grave.

Quote of the day: “An honourable defeat is better than a dishonourable victory neither.”

Millard Fillmore

The former American president was died on March 8, 1874

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